graves



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

EYDRAUEIE APPARATUS FOR. OPERATING PERPETUAL BRIUK KILNS.

B. GRAVES.

Patented Nov. 6

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. 'Nrrno urns ATENT rnrcn,

HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR OPERATING PERPETUAL BRICK-KILNS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,511, dated November 6,1888.

Application filed May 4, 1888. Serial No. 272,861. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRED B. GRAVES, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Apparatus for Operating Perpetual Brick-Kilns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention relates to hydraulic mechanism, particularly adapted for use in withdrawingthe charges from what are known as perpetual brick-kilns-that is, those in which the green bricks are inserted at the top and the burned bricks removed from the bottom; and it consists in certain improved devices for supporting and lowering the column of bricks either at one short operation or by a gradual movement, as desired; and it further consists in devices for facilitating the repacking of the cylinder without lifting the piston outof position, as is ordinarily done when this operation is performed; and it further consists in certain novel arrangements of parts and combinations, all as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of the lower end of a kiln, showing the construction and operation of the various parts. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the ramcylinder with the platen of the ram removed. Fig. dis a sectional view of the cylinder in normal working position; Fig. 4, a view showing the ram raised and the manner of inserting the packing, and Fig. 5 a view of the reg ulating-valve.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate similar parts.

The lower end of the trunk or shaft A of the kiln, through which the bricks from above pass, is provided, as usual, with a sliding hood or sleeve, B, adapted to rest upon the top of a car, 0, normally to prevent access of air to the kiln during burning, and this car, in the ordinary form of kiln and during the burning operation, rests upon the platen of a hydraulic piston, or, if desired, upon suitable track-rails, c c, laid upon the ground, or any suitable support. Above the track-rails a suitable dis tance, and on opposite sides the shaft, are provided girders or supports D D,'upon which rest bars E E, adapted to be projected through suitable interstices in the column of bricks at regular intervals (denoting a single section or charge) and support the column of bricks above, as ordinarily. Between the track-rails is provided a hydraulicram cylinder, F, in which operates a piston, F, having a platen, G, at its upper end, adapted when raised to engage the car and raise it and the column of bricks thereon a short distance, after which the hood is raised and bars E E projected through the interstices in the column, and the latter supported while the plates and car are lowered to lowest position and the car run off with the charge of bricks below the bars, and an empty car run over the platen, the ram and car raised so that the bars E E on the latter passing between those supporting the column will take the load. The bars E E are then withdrawn and the ram allowed to descend somewhat rapidly a sufficient distance to bring the next series of apertures formed in the column approximately at a level with bars E E. The operations thus far described are the usual ones in kilns of this description.

My improved means for performing these lifting and lowering operations is constructed as follows:

H represents an air-tight tank, connected by a pipe, h, with the cylinder of the ram, in which pipe is interposed a valve, P, while around this valve is a small pipe, I, forming a bypass, in which is located an adjustable valve, I, preferably provided with a dial,z', and a pointer, 6, connected with the stem or the handle, so that the opening through the valve can be regulated and any desired quantity of fluid allowed to pass in a given time.

J represents a steam or other suitable pump, the exhaust from which is preferably connected with pipe it between the valve P and the ramcylinder, (though a direct connection with the cylinder might be made,ifdesirable;) and K, an open tank, connected by pipe 7a with pipe it directly, (or indirectly through pipe j,) and having a valve, 70, therein, as shown; and L, a pipe connecting the tank K with the supply to the pump. I also prefer to employ a suitable oil-filter, M, in pipe I, as shown, for rcwhich they may be operated, close together,

moving impurities in the fluid when passing to or from the ram-cylinder.

The operation of this portion of my invention is as follows: WVhen it is desired to remove the charge that is on the car, I raise the hood, close valves P, I, and 7c, and start the pump, forcing a quantity of fluid (I prefer to employ oil for obvious reasons) into the rameylinder, lifting the piston and the column of brick until the apertures arein line with bars E E, then run in the bars, and to transferthe weight of the column to them I stop the pump, keep valve is closed, open valve P a suitable distance-say fully, ifdesired-to have the car fall quickly and allow the weight of the piston, the car, and charge thereon to force the oil back into the tank, compressing the air therein (a slight pressure being always maintained) to a pressure of, say, thirty pounds. After the ram-piston with the car and charge of bricks thereon has assumed its lowermost position and the car rests upon the rails the valve P is closed and valve is opened, allowing the piston to sink slightly, forcing the small quantity of oil into the tank K and leaving the car free to be run off to discharge its load. XVhcn an empty car is substituted for the full one over the ram-platen,the valve In is closed and valve P opened,when the pressure of air in the tank will force the oil back into the ram-cyli nder and raise the piston 11 ntil the rails on the car are in contact with the lower course of brick; then as greater pressure is required valve P is closed, the pump operated to force a small quantity of oil from the tank K into the cylinder just sufficient to lift the car and column and relieve the bars E E. The latter are theirmovcd out and the piston and car allowed to descend slowly, thehood B being down on the car and valve I in by-pass I being opened. In order to regulate and control this descending movement and cause the gradual lowering of the column, instead of allowing it to descend quickly, as at present,

the valveI in the bypass I,composed of a very small pipe, is,'as stated, provided with the indicator shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the indications being so arranged relatively to the valve-opening that the time necessary for the descent of the column will be indicated and the operator can set the valve and allow the column to settle. The time necessary to elapse between the removal of the charges of bricks is about an hour; but any other time can be set, as desired-say two or three, if desiredto burn the bricks unusually hard.

As the opening through the pipe and valve I is necessarily very small. and a slight obstruction would clog it, I provide the filter for the purpose of straining the oil every time it is forced back in the air-chamber through the bypass, and thus remove all liability of failure of operation on this score.

The valves are herein shown separated; but I propose to locate them, or connections by so as to be more convenient to the operator.

The difficulty heretofore experienced in repacking the cylinders of hydraulic rams without taking the piston out of and away from the cylinder I obviate by the following de vices:

The channel formed in the cylinder for the packing is usually in the body thereof, some distance below the upper end; but I construct mine directly at the top of the cylinder, as shown at N, while 0 represents the ordinary cup-leather packing.

On the end of the cylinder I provide a long sleeve or cap-piece, P, normally resting upon the top of the cylinder, and secured in position by means of boltsp, as in Fig. 2, passing through its lateral flange p and a corresponding flange on the cylinder-head. The lower side of the sleeve is preferably flat and forms the upper side of the recess for the packing when in position, though it might be slightly recessed,if desired, and the upper side, P of the sleeve is also preferably flat. At equal distances apart in the lateral flange of the cap-piece are provided vertical perforations, terminating in recesses on the under side, in each of which is located a large angular nut, Q, (five being preferably employed, though a greater or less number may be used,) and the top of the cylinder is provided beneath each of these nuts with a slight recess or seat,'q. If desired, the threads might be made in the recesses and the nuts dispensed with. Pass ing loosely through the perforations and fitting the thrcads in the nuts are five strong screws, their lower ends being preferably rounded and resting in the seats in the oylinder-head and provided for them, while at a short distance above the flanges they are provided with sprocket-wheels S S,secured rigidly, and the ends are preferably made angular for the application of a suitable wrench. A sprocket-chain, S, is passed around all of these sprocketwhcels, and it will be seen that when one of these screws is rotated by a wrench orother suitable means all of them will be, and also that the cap-piece P will. be gradually raised, provided the bolts 1) are loosened. These screws in effect form jacks, connected together forsimultaneous opcration,and there fore any equivalent form of jack might be equally well employed.

The manner of using this device will now be readily understood. IVhen it becomes necessary to repack the piston, the rain is raised in the ordinary manner (if this feature is applied to the apparatus herein described the car is removed) up to the maximum height-- that is, with the lower end of the piston slightly below the lower edge of thepackingring; then the pressure is cut off. A number of timbers or bars, T T, (or, if desired, suitable partible ringsections may be employed,) are now placed between the collar on the piston-head just below the platen and the ICO IIS

top of sleeve 1?, as shown in Fig. 4, and the pressure in the cylinder reduced slightly and cut off, allowing the weight of the piston to be transferred to these bars. Then the bolts pp are loosened and removed, and one or more of the screws R turned by a wrench or other suitable tool, the connection between them operating them all simultaneously, causing the gradual raising of the sleeve and piston,which latter, being supported by the long bearing in the sleeve and the broad base afforded by the several screws, is accurately and quickly raised a sufficient distance to permit access to the recess in the end of the cylinder and the removal of the old and insertion of the new packing, the operation consuminglittle time, and requiring the exercise of but slight skill on the part of the operator. When the packing is in place, the movement of the screw is reversed and the ring and piston allowed to descend until they rest upon the cylinder, when bolts p are replaced and secured, the timbers T removed, and the ram is in position to be operated in the ordinary manner again.

It will be understood that even should the groove for the packing be located below the extreme end of the cylinder the packing can be as readily put in place by the employment of the above device. However, I prefer to employ the recess with the open side,asshown, for obvious reasons.

Another diiiiculty liable to arise in the use of rams, substantially as above described, and particularly when used in brick-kilns and similar places, is the cutting of the packing by sand and grit that will stick to the piston when raised, as it will be covered with oil, and will be carried down by it when it descends, and when the packing is cut or Worn the oil escaping will run over the top of the sleeve, and thus foul the upper end of the cylinder. In order to guard against these objectionable features I construct in the upper end of the sleeve a groove, R, adapted to be filled with waste, 0"; or any similar packing may be used resting against the piston and operating as a wiper to remove any sand or dust every time the piston descends, thus preventing it from reaching and destroying the leather packing and injuring it..

Just below the top of the sleeve I provide it with an annular recess, 8 open to the piston, for the purpose of catching any oil that may leak around the piston-packing, and from this recess extends a small drain-pipe, 3 running to a suitable receptacle beneath, for carrying off any oil or fluid leaking through, so that the end of the cylinder will be clean at all times. This drain-pipe may be flexible or merely a short pipe that can be raised bodily when the sleeve is raised to change the packing, as will be readily understood.

I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to precisely the details herein described, except as specified in the terms of the claims, as devices other than those shown could be employed for accomplishing the same operations, and, further, the invention can be applied to uses other than rams for operating brick-kilns.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of ahydraulic cylinder, a piston operating therein, a closed air-cham' her, an open tank and a pump, a passage with a valve therein between the closed tank-and the cylinder, a passage between the open tank and the cylinder and a valve for closing it, a passage from the open tank to the supply of the pump, and one from the pump to the cylinder, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and the piston,ofthesleeve loosely encircling the piston arranged between the piston end and the cylinder, and having a long beariug on said piston, removable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston end and sleeve,and lifting devices for raising the sleeve, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve loosely encircling the piston, arranged between the piston end and the cylinder, removable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston end and sleeve,and lifting devices for raising the sleeve, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve located between the piston end and the end of the cylinder, and havinga long bearing on thepiston, suitable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston and sleeve, and a series of jacks for raising the sleeve above the cylinder connected for simultaneous operation, sub stantially as described.

5. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve located between the piston end and the end of the cylinder, and having a bearing on the piston, of suitable removable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston and sleeve, and a series of screw jacks passing through corresponding threaded apertures in the sleeve connected for simultaneous operation, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve having a long bearing on the piston and normally connected to the cylinder and forming the end thereof, removable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston end and sleeve, and lifting device for raising said sleeve above the end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve loosely encircling the piston, located between the piston end and cylinder and having a bearing on the piston, suitable removable supports adapted to be in terposed between the piston end and sleeve, a series of screw-jacks passing through threaded apertures in the sleeve and having sprocketwheels thereon, and a chain passing over said wheels for causing their simultaneous opera tion, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the vertical cylinder having the packing-groove at the upper end thereof, and the piston, of the sleeve normally secured to the cylinder and covering said groove whenin position, suitable removable supports adapted to connect the sleeve and piston when desired,and lifting devices for lifting the said sleeve above the end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the cylinder having the piston operating therein, the open tank, a passage connecting the pump-exhaust and cylinder, and a passage connecting the open tank and cylinder, and a valve located therein, substantially as described.

10. The combination, withthe vertical cylinder and piston, of the sleeve loosely encircling the piston and located between the piston end and the end of the cylinder, of suitable removable supports adapted to be interposed between the piston and sleeve, and liftingjacks between the cylinder end and the sleeve for raising the latter,substantially as described.

FRED B. GRAVES.

Vii nesses:

FRED F. CHURCH, GEo. B. SELDENQ 

